An Old Saybrook man has been charged with kidnapping his wife, trying to kill her, as well as arson, assault and other charges in connection with a fire inside his house at 19 Beaver Dam Trail.
Glenn Alburtus, 60, was arrested on Wednesday. He, his 55-year-old wife, Susan, a police officer and a firefighter were injured in the fire on Feb. 22 and police said there was a criminal investigation into the blaze.
On the day of the fire, police charged Glenn Alburtus with second-degree threatening, first-degree reckless endangerment, first-degree unlawful restraint and disorderly conduct.
He was arrested again on Wednesday and charged with criminal attempted to commit murder, arson in the first degree, arson in the first degree, arson in the first degree, kidnapping in the first degree, assault in the first degree, assault in the third degree and interfering with an emergency call.
Bond was set at $1 million.
Police responded to the house after receiving several 911 calls. When they arrived, they found a woman screaming for help and realized that there was fire, so they called the fire department.
On the day of the fire, Alburtus was in critical condition at the Bridgeport Hospital Burn Unit and is under police guard.
Susan Alburtus, 55, was in critical condition at Yale New Haven Hospital, according to police.
Neighbors reported hearing yelling from the house around 5 a.m. that day and saw flames.
Neighbors described the couple who live in the house as nice people who keep to themselves.
“They're very nice. They seem like they're pleasant people. They wave when they went by,” Van Vliet said.
Photo Credit: Steve Miller, NBC Connecticut